Senior officer apologises over decision to grant gun licence to Keyham shooter

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A senior officer has apologised for the decision to grant and later return a shotgun licence to Jake Davison, telling an inquest: “It should not have happened.” Chief Superintendent Roy Linden is the most senior officer from Devon and Cornwall Police to give evidence at the inquest into the death of five people killed by Davison in Keyham, Plymouth, on August 12 2021. He told the hearing at Exeter Racecourse: “Our view is that in 2017, Jake Davison should not have been given a certificate and in 2020, following the skatepark incident, certainly should not have been given one.” Mr Linden later added: “Jake Davison should not have had a licence. I can say, if it came before us today, it would not be granted.” Mr Linden described how there had been a number of changes made at Devon and Cornwall Police following the Keyham shootings. Davison would not have been quizzed on incel culture as part of his firearms application but general questions should have brought up his “fascination with America and gun culture”, Mr Linden said.